We’ve all had ‘one of those weeks’. By a nasty stroke of luck, you’ve got projects overlapping, deadlines looming, a dozen client meetings and a handful of new employees to get up to speed.
Before you know it, you’re 70 hours deep and you can’t remember what a good sleep feels like. But for some people, that’s not a bad week – it’s every week! Are you really under that much pressure, with clients breathing down your neck 24/7, or are you a workaholic?
A world of overworkers
All over the globe, people are taking work to the extremes. In South Korea, employees are clocking in for an average of 2,193 hours per year – that’s the equivalent of a 42-hour week, every week, without holidays or sick days. In the USA, workers have limited legal entitlement to paid annual leave. And in Japan, the government has considered making it a legal requirement for workers to actually take a minimum number of their designated holidays. So why can’t people seem to get a break?
Workaholics anonymous
It’s not clear whether an addiction to work can be considered in the same way we see alcoholism or other addictions – but there do seem to be some similarities. The adrenaline high from a long binge of work, the exhausting crash from doing too much, followed by periods of unease and “withdrawal” during times of inactivity. We all know that person who wears their hours-per-week like a badge of honour, but there comes a point where excessive workloads can start to affect your health, your social life and your family.
Where an addiction to work differs from traditional vices – and where it can certainly be reinforced – is in the way society condones it. Your wobbly uncle might “just enjoy a good whiskey”, but in the same way, a non-stop worker might just be “providing for their family” or “passionate about their business”. What’s important is that you know where to draw the line – where your commitments to work are in a healthy equilibrium with the other important parts of your life. Talk to others around you and see what their perceptions of you are – use your professional connections and the community of workers around you to gauge how much more you are doing, then ask yourself why they aren’t quite so busy.
The dangers of overworking
It’s not just about missing out on time spent with your family and friends either. Working too much can have serious consequences for your health, too. A 2013 study of more than 200 Japanese workers found that employees who worked long hours (at least 60 hours per week) and had high job demands – defined as “usually” having too much work – were 15 times more likely to have depression when re-evaluated a few years later.
Japan, in particular, is famous for being one of the hardest-working nations – the word “karoshi” means “death caused by overwork or job-related exhaustion”. Unfortunately it’s a very real phenomenon. About 200 Japanese people die each year from heart attacks, strokes and other karoshi-related events as a result of extreme work schedules.
The effect on business
If you’re the kind of person who could happily work yourself into a stupor, sacrificing your health and your social life for the sake of your business, then think again. Studies into productivity date back to the first world war, into British munitions workers, when the demand for more weapons was insatiable. They all concluded that beyond a 50-hour week, there’s a sharp drop in output – and after 55 hours, things get even worse. When you take fatigue into account, someone racking up 70 hours a week produces very little more than someone doing 55.
Recognising the warning signs
It’s not always easy to understand your own habits. But there are some fairly universal traits. If you find it hard to take proper breaks, find that your general happiness is defined by how well your work’s going, and find that your work is having an effect on your physical health, you probably need to take it down a notch. But that’s not to say that any short burst of heavy, hard work is a sign of an unhealthy habit. We all need to pull the occasional all-nighter to get what we want – the trick is knowing when to stop.
How to combat overworking
It’s not always possible to finish bang on time, but there are ways to limit the impact of overworking. It may seem counter-intuitive, but taking breaks during your day will actually make you more productive, helping you complete tasks quicker. Even if you have lots to do, by setting clear boundaries and making it clear to co-workers and clients that you are not available during certain hours, you will soon see the benefits. If you work from home, make sure your work space is separate from your living area, so you can close the door on your office. If you are cramped for room at home, consider using a co-working space to escape from the constant reminder of work.
Clearing time for yourself
During the day, ensure you have a proper lunch break, away from your desk, getting out into the fresh air if possible. In the evenings, take the time to put your kids to bed and have dinner with your partner. And at the weekend, spend time with friends and family, without the constant buzzing of your smartphone reminding you of what needs to be done.
Taking control of your workload and not allowing it to dictate your life will improve your state of mind and health in the long-term. Separating work from your private life rapidly improve your state of mind. Get your workspace right, with access to natural light and stimulation around you, and your body, not to mention your balance sheet, will start to see an improvement.
